The world on April 22 observed Earth Day, an annual event meant to inspire awareness and appreciation for our planet's environment. But this yearly reminder has come under fire from some environmentalists, who say the excessive promotion of a "one-day revolution" amounts to nothing but empty symbolism.

Critics have created a new word, "slacktivism," that describes taking feel-good measures in support of a social cause. The word, a mix of "slacker" and "activism," is used to label activities that have little practical effect, such as signing Internet petitions and taking part in short-term boycotts.

Earth Day has been a positive force in the struggle to educate. However, we must not fall into a "slacktivist" mindset. Instead of turning off the lights for 30 minutes once a year, what is needed is a shift in thinking that views saving electricity with an almost religious fervor.

Every day, each of us faces small choices that will ultimately make the difference between a grim or bright future. The cumulative acts of billions of people, such as stopping the use of disposable goods and starting to use energy-efficient light bulbs, can add up to real change.

Symbolic measures and awareness campaigns can be helpful, but without a radical change in attitudes, real progress will remain stunted.